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Thursday, 19 December 2013

Mottos to live by

Last year, on top of my normal New Year's Resolution, you may remember I decided I'd invent something (see here) - well guess what? I didn't, still on the Torschlusspanik list but no hurry, I'll get there.

So this year, I'm just hanging onto the resolution to try and be happy. That's enough. However, I'm also amping it up a little.

A friend went to Sweden (a weekend trip from London to visit the Abba museum) and updated her FB status at the end of it: Farewell Sweden. We walked in, we danced out.

I have decided my new motto in life is: Walked In, Danced Out. (So be prepared for a whole lot of sparkly, spangled challenges hitting the Torschlusspanik List next year).

Now I understand some of you may have loftier needs in a motto than me, so here are a few that came back when I put it out to my universe:

Do everything whole heartedly (I, of course, prefer the Ron Swansonism Never half ass two things, whole ass one thing.)Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn, then always be a unicorn.Eat, Drink and Be MerryWalk the Line (but the person who said it didn't really know what it meant, just thought it sounded good - it then evolved to Dance the Line)I am Enough (which I had to ruin with my infantile humour and add 'Enough is okay, but too much is better')Too much of a good thing is wonderfulMake every minute countLaugh so hard you scare peopleBe a voice, not an echo

While worthy, these are all a little trite nowadays, so probably not motivating enough anymore. I was very taken with something in a movie the other day (no spoilers peeps, don't mention the movie): The art of survival is a story that doesn't end.

There is one that I aspire to, but I have enough self knowledge to understand that for me, and my highly strung wiring, it will always be unattainable. I asked a friend who'd just been through a stressful business venture how he was, and he replied merrily "I'm good. You know me, I'm always good. Even when they're firing bullets at me, I'm still smiling". I'd LOVE that to be my motto, but I think realistically, I'll have to settle for the dancing.
Lastly I want to leave you with the best bit of parenting advice I received this year - it came from the very wonderful Ed at The Tunnel "We can't tell our children how to live their lives but we can hopefully tell them not to live them like Liberace." Wise, wise words indeed!

I've added a few more that I've learnt since writing this -

Even the smallest axe can fell a large tree if it is sharp enough.The flower doesn't concern itself with the flower next to it, it just blooms.So what do you think? Want to claim any of them? What would your 2014 motto be? OR life motto if you are that committed?

26 comments:

My motto is live in the moment and enjoy the little things. Because I enjoy playing with my baby more than worrying about whether the bathroom is perfectly clean :) Babies are really good teachers for how to live in the moment.

I think I need to adopt the one: I Am Enough. I'm my own worst critic most of the time and I need to snap out of that mentality. Your list of mottos made me smile. I've come from FYBF. Hope you have a wonderful break!

I often say to people, "well it's happened and there's nothing I can do to change it" or "there's no point in worrying about something that might never happen" so I really don't anymore, it's taken me years to get to this point. However, I do struggle a lot with ensuring I am not a tired, overworked and cranky mum, so maybe my motto should be "finding a balance in my work/home life, only blog when I have the time so I don't end up with wrong priorities". A pretty long motto. Thanks for the food for thought. Love Ed's great, it's great x

You always have a knack for making me smile. That is an awesome motto to live by and I think I will adopt it too, along with be a voice not an echo. Can't wait to read more of your awesome work in the new year!

I have theme songs. At the moment it's a mash up of "Things can only get better" and 'aint nothing going to break my stride....I've got to keep on moving". I've had a tough year health wise with no real reprieve in sight and I'm determined not to let that get to me.

Nice to see you dancing out!! And I love the one about laughing so hard you scare everyone. And be a voice, not an echo. I'm going to just try and be happy this year, especially at my children, less cranky mummy!!

Walked in, danced out! I love it love love love it! There are some great mottos in there lovely, thanks for sharing Wishing you all the best for 2014 may it be filled with fairy wishes and butterfly kisses

I'm not so good at dancing but I love the flower analogy. These days I'm living by the mantra that my mental health is more important than what someone may think of me. Not revolutionary but it's helping a bit.

I love lots of these - my trouble is consistently applying any of them! Be a voice not an echo rings true today though. It's especially difficult to say something strong and unique now that there are so, so many voices making themselves known! (On the internet I mean, not just inside my head). Walked in, danced out is awesome though.